Iran Protests: Ninth Day of Unrest as Trump Warns of US Action
Iran’s anti-government protests stretch into a ninth night as crowds defy an internet blackout and Donald Trump hints at possible U.S. intervention.
A Nation on Edge
Tehran’s night sky flickered with the orange glow of trash-can fires as protesters chanted "Death to the dictator" for the ninth consecutive evening. From the capital to the oil-rich cities of Khuzestan, crowds swelled despite a near-total internet shutdown and a warning from former U.S. president Donald Trump that America could "step in" if the crackdown turns deadly.
‘We Have Nothing Left to Lose’
On Ferdowsi Street, 26-year-old pharmacy worker Sara hid her face behind a green surgical mask as she spoke to this correspondent. "My brother lost an eye last night to a paint-ball gun," she said, voice cracking. "They shut the web so the world won’t watch us bleed, but we keep filming anyway."
"Every ping of tear gas reminds me I may not go home tonight, yet silence feels worse than dying."— Sara, protester in Tehran
Trump Revives ‘Maximum Pressure’ Rhetoric
From his Florida estate, Trump told right-wing broadcaster RealTalk that "a strong, swift message" may be needed if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei orders a bloodbath. Analysts read the comment as a signal to regional allies rather than an imminent military move, but it has already lit up Farsi-language Telegram channels.
- Protests began over a 300% jump in petrol prices
- At least 133 cities report nightly rallies; casualty counts remain disputed
- Authorities blame "foreign enemies" for stoking dissent
Inside the Information Blackout
Mobile data is throttled to 2G speeds; WhatsApp, Instagram and Signal remain unreachable without VPNs. Yet videos—grainy, shot on balconies—slip out via satellite uplinks to Dubai, then to the wider world. One clip, verified by Storyful, shows teenage girls waving school scarves above their heads while motorists honk in rhythm, a scene reminiscent of the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising.
What Happens Next?
With Friday prayers looming, security forces have flooded Tehran’s Grand Bazaar district. Merchants, historically a bellwether, say they will strike if arrests continue. Diplomats privately warn that sustained unrest could push hard-liners toward nuclear escalation as a nationalist distraction. For ordinary Iranians, the stakes are simpler: bread, dignity, and the right to walk the streets without fear.